The Mental Health Action Group (MHAG) began life in the early 1990s as the Derbyshire Patients’ Council, based at Kingsway Hospital in Derby. It was only the second such Council in England, after Nottingham. It served mental health patients successfully for many years.

In response to the changing nature of mental health treatment, with more patients living in the community, the group re-launched in 2007 as MHAG, with a specific remit to fight for the rights of people with mental health problems.

We are now primarily a campaigning group, led by service users in southern Derbyshire. We cover Derby City, Amber Valley, Erewash Valley and South Derbyshire. Wherever we feel that people with mental health problems are being treated with unfairness, discrimination or stigma, we will fight for their rights.

We meet every month, and anyone with an issue around mental health is welcome. MHAG has around 200 members, and a dozen representatives (all volunteers), plus two part-time co-ordinators, employed by Derbyshire Mind. It is a user-led group, and all activities and campaigns are decided by the members, so it is independent. We are funded by the NHS  and Councils.

If you want to become a member, you need to be a mental health service user or carer, or have an interest in mental health issues. Contact us to find out more.